Flamingos take shelter in Florida zoo toilets as Hurricane Isaias causes fatalities and extensive damage

An unusual situation unfolded in Florida, United States, where a group of flamingos took refuge in the toilets of a zoo to protect themselves from powerful Hurricane Isaias.

The incident took place at ZooWorld in Panama City Beach as the storm approached the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico.

To protect them from strong winds and extreme weather, park employees moved the flamingos indoors. The toilets were used as a temporary shelter for the birds.

Photos and footage of the pink birds gathered inside the toilets were shared by AccuWeather and attracted considerable attention on social media.

ZooWorld representatives said that the way animals are protected during a hurricane depends on the species and the needs of each animal. Some can remain in sheltered areas with straw, while others require more space and water. For the flamingos, the toilets were considered a suitable temporary shelter until the danger had passed.

Meanwhile, Isaias swept across Florida with winds reaching around 170 kilometers per hour, causing damage, flooding and power outages in several areas.

American media reported that the severe weather claimed the lives of at least four people, while hundreds of thousands of families and businesses were left without power.